BOULDER, Colo., March 2, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- N30 Pharmaceuticals, LLC (N30 Pharma) today announced it will present data at the 2011 Annual Meeting of the Society of Toxicology in Washington, D.C. on Monday, March 7, 2011. The data describe the preclinical safety evaluation of small molecule inhibitors of S-nitrosoglutathione reductase (GSNOR), and the lack of apparent mechanism-based toxicities. GSNOR is a critical enzyme in the endogenous nitric oxide pathway, and its activity is thought to be important in human respiratory, gastrointestinal and cardiovascular disease. N30 Pharma's first GSNOR inhibitor, N6022, is currently in Phase 1b/2a testing. The poster will be available as a PDF on the N30 Pharma website after its presentation (www.n30pharma.com).

Poster: Inhibition of the Enzyme S-nitrosoglutathione Reductase (GSNOR) Does Not Cause Mechanism-Based Toxicity.

Targeting GSNOR

GSNOR breaks down S-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO), reducing the body's pool of GSNO. In the lung, GSNO likely plays an important role in maintaining normal respiratory function through its influence on bronchial tone and anti-inflammatory effects. Similarly, in the gut, GSNO supports barrier function and maintains the integrity of the gut surface. In asthmatics, GSNOR up-regulation and decreased GSNO levels have been shown to contribute to respiratory disease, and genetic variants of GSNOR have been correlated with disease susceptibility and poor response to therapy. GSNO has also been found to be important in the cardiovascular system as well as the control of breathing.

About inhibitors of GSNOR

N30 Pharma's portfolio of proprietary compounds provides a platform of potent, selective and reversible inhibitors of GSNOR. They increase levels of GSNO, an S-nitrosothiol that plays a central role in health and disease.